Reviving a fan-favorite series.
It’s still early but 2026 has been off to a great start for Zach Bryan. Shortly after announcing that he’s beginning his sobriety journey late in 2025, he would get married to Samantha Sebastian on New Year’s Eve. Just two weeks later, he’d drop his long-awaited sixth studio album, With Heaven On Top, along with a full-length acoustic version of the record. Delivering another stellar effort, With Heaven On Top would debut #1 on the all-genre Billboard 200, selling 130,00 units in its first week and charting 18/25 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
In case you’re unfamiliar with The Bend themselves, they’re an alternative rock band comprised of lead vocalist, Hayden Field, guitarist, Ian Marmande, bassist, Chase Perkins and Jacob Rhodes on drums. Being based in Louisiana and getting their start at LSU and in the greater college scene in 2023, the band would quickly move to Nashville, where they reside now.
Despite debuting in November 2024 with their first single, “Makeup,” the band has simply skyrocketed in popularity over the past year and a half. With over 500,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, an impressive 8 million streams with “Makeup” on Spotify alone and some other stellar tracks like “Smoking in Bed,” “Virginia” and “Weekend Love,” they’re one of the fastest-rising alternative bands in the scene today.
What jumps out at you upon your first watch of the new episode is just how much the production quality has jumped up in the past two years for Bryan and Co. In addition to fitting all four members of the band into the back of the Bronco, the number of camera angles — both in the truck itself and outside — is truly impressive. Couple that with some super fun inclusion of subtle special effects like visualized drum beats and vibrating guitar strings, and it’s an incredibly impressive production overall.
Overall, it’s an incredibly impressive outing from The Bend. Though they’re a far cry from the likes of Hofmann and Godwin sonically, the Louisiana band is well worth the listen. If you’re a fan of Bryan’s collaborations with Kings of Leon — or enjoy the likes of them, Cage the Elephant, The Strokes, The Black Keys and more in the alternative scene — check the episode out immediately.
Watch the full episode here:
Zach Bryan Tour Dates
May 27 – San Sebastian, Spain – Donostia Arena- Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara
May 31 – Berlin, Germany – Waldbühne – Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara
June 3 – Oslo, Norway – Unity Arena – Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara
June 6 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Parken – Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara
June 9 – Eindhoven, Netherlands – Philips Stadium – Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara
June 12 – Liverpool, United Kingdom – Anfield Stadium – Dijon & Fey Fili
June 14 – Edinburgh, United Kingdom – Scottish Gas Murrayfield – Dijon & Fey Fili
June 16 – London, United Kingdom – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – Dijon & Fey Fili
June 17 – London, United Kingdom – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – Dijon & Fey Fili
June 20 – Cork, Ireland – Páirc Úi Chaoimh – Dijon & Fey Fili
June 21 – Cork, Ireland – Páirc Úi Chaoimh – Dijon & Fey Fili
June 23 – Belfast, Northern Ireland – Boucher Playing Fields – Dijon & Fey Fili
June 24 – Belfast, Northern Ireland – Boucher Playing Fields – Dijon & Fey Fili
July 24 – Eugene, Oregon – Autzen Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili
July 31 – San Diego, California – Snapdragon Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili
August 1 – San Diego, California – Snapdragon Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili
August 7 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Rice-Eccles Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili
August 13 – Denver, Colorado – Empower Field at Mile High – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili
August 14 – Denver, Colorado – Empower Field at Mile High – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili
August 22 – Arlington, Texas – AT&T Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili
September 5 – Glendale, Arizona – State Farm Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili
September 18 – Dover, Delaware – The Woodlands – Kings of Leon, Fey Fili & Gabriella Rose
September 19 – Dover, Delaware – The Woodlands – Alabama Shakes, Fey Fili & Gabriella Rose
September 21 – Toronto, Ontario – Rogers Center – Trampled By Turtles & Gabriella Rose
September 22 – Toronto, Ontario – Rogers Center – Trampled By Turtles & Gabriella Rose
October 2 – Foxborough, Massachusetts – Gillette Stadium – Gregory Alan Isakov & Gabriella Rose
October 3 – Foxborough, Massachusetts – Gillette Stadium – Gregory Alan Isakov & Gabriella Rose
October 10 – Auburn, Alabama – Jordan-Hare Stadium – Gregory Alan Iskov & Gabriella Rose
